Blessed Is the One Who Endures Trials – What She Said #15 – Week 4, Day 6

TODAY'S TREASURE

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God.

Psalm 146:5 ESV

Transcript

What She Said #15

Blessed Is the One Who Endures Trials

Guest Writer, Lauri A. Hogle

Today’s Treasure

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God.

Psalm 146:5 ESV

I prayed for courage and strength to try more pain treatments when all had failed. All had produced side effects that rendered me even more dependent, weak, and “useless” to others. In my permanent, chronic, progressive disability, how could I continue to manage life on earth?

LORD, Father, Son, Holy Spirit

You encourage me to keep going in this hard suffering, sanctifying me with Your true Word.1 “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.”2 

When my crosses feel too heavy to carry, remind me that it’s good that I’m so weak. I don’t need to pretend I’m a “strong” saint. For You are the One who bore every bit of my sin on His cross, the One who gives me His strength, the One whose promises are sure. Any ability I have to keep going is all Your gracious work. You are the source.

When called to bear the weighty cross,

Or sore affliction, pain, or loss,

Or deep distress, or poverty,

Still, as thy days, thy strength shall be.3

I’m barely hanging on, but You tell me: “Blessed is the one who endures trials…”

Should persecution rage and flame,

Still trust in thy Redeemer’s name;

In fiery trials thou shalt see,

That as thy days, thy strength shall be.

“because when he has stood the test…”

Thy faith is weak, thy foes are strong;

And if the conflict should be long,

Thy Lord will make the tempter flee;

For as thy days, thy strength shall be.

“he will receive the crown of life that God has promised…”

When ghastly death appears in view,

Christ’s presence shall thy fears subdue;

He comes to set thy spirit free,

And as thy days, thy strength shall be. 

“to those who love him.”4

Afflicted saint, to Christ draw near,

Thy Savior’s gracious promise hear;

His faithful word declares to thee,

That as thy days, thy strength shall be.

Lord, it is a blessing to draw near to You through Your Word. To so dependently need Christ’s promised energy that He “powerfully works within me,”5 for each hour, as His Spirit continues to make Your love known to me.6 To cling to Your promises when I’m scared. To remember that You will supply all my needs, according to Your “riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”7 My need for strengthened endurance in trials? It’s Your blessing of strength, perfectly portioned out by Your hand, 8 until the day You give me Your promised crown of life. 

Let not thy heart despond, and say,

“How shall I stand the trying day?”

He has engaged, by firm decree,

That as thy days, thy strength shall be.

LIFE-GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT

We usually think of God’s blessing as health, prosperity, comfort, and ease on earth. What do we do when our life is upended with ongoing affliction and permanent suffering? Could it be…that He is actively blessing us through our humbled and continual need for His help? Beloved in Christ, He says so. “Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God” (Ps. 146:5 ESV).

PRAYER

Father, show me that You are blessing me today by my need for Your help. By clinging to the hope that You’ve given me in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Because of Your Spirit’s work of ongoing and sanctifying grace within me, help me to sing to You in the same way as Your blessed one, my Lord Jesus, sang: “O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!” (Ps. 84:12 ESV). In His blessed and beloved name, amen. 

This devotion is adapted from Praying God’s Blessings in Christ as We Suffer: Scripture Prayers for the Hardest Days. (published April 7, 2026, link forthcoming)

1. Jn. 17:17

2. Rev. 14:12

3. “As thy Days, So Shall thy Strength Be,” Fawcett, J., 1793. Sing to the tune of “Just as I Am.”

4. Jas.1:12

5. Col. 1:29

6. Jn. 17:26

7. Phil. 4:19

8. Deut. 33:25